January is the month with the most bird strikes at Sacramento International Airport. Most do little or no damage to planes, but some have caused crashes elsewhere. Last week in Sacramento, a strike caused a United Airlines jet engine to catch fire, forcing the pilot to turn the plane around and land.

Sacramento bird strike facts:

▪ The airport sits under the Pacific Flyway, a major bird migration corridor.

▪ December and January are peak months, but bird strikes are reported year-round.

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